What the Big Ten Tournament field looks like as of Feb. 13
Michigan basketball is in a position at 14-11 (8-6 in Big Ten play) where every win matters if it hopes to make a push for a postseason spot. With the NCAA Tournament looking less likely by the day, the Wolverines are probably going to need to win a few games in the Big Ten Tournament in Chicago to give itself any type of chance.
If the Big Ten tourney started today, Michigan would be the No. 9 seed taking on rival Michigan State in the opening game on Thursday. Should it find a way to advance from there, it would take on top-seeded Purdue in the Friday quarterfinals. The Wolverines played Purdue once already this season, a 75-70 loss in Ann Arbor on Jan. 26.
It is possible Michigan could slide to the 10 seed if it goes through a late-season tailspin, especially with two games coming up against Wisconsin. Still, No. 9 feels like the floor, but a double-bye is still on the table. The Wolverines are just a game out of a top-four spot in the conference standings with road tilts at Rutgers, Illinois and Indiana still to come. As unlikely as victories in those spots may feel, it is still factually and mathematically in play.
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• Michigan basketball’s NCAA Tournament bubble has just about burst, but path still exists
As we wrote Sunday, Michigan needs some combination of 5 wins between the regular season and conference tournament to place itself onto the bubble. Time is running out to make that happen.
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Elko pokes at Kiffin
A&M coach jokes over kick times
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Next up for Michigan is a game against Wisconsin on Tuesday night in Madison. Tipoff is set for 9 p.m. ET from the Kohl Center with ESPN2 carrying the broadcast.
March 8
Game 1: No. 13 Ohio State vs. No. 12 Nebraska, 6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Game 2: No. 14 Minnesota vs. No. 11 Penn State, 25 minutes after Game 1, Big Ten Network
March 9
Game 3: No. 9 Michigan vs. No. 8 Michigan State, 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Game 4: Ohio State/Nebraska vs. No. 5 Illinois, 25 minutes after Game 3, Big Ten Network
Game 5: No. 10 Wisconsin vs. No. 7 Iowa, 6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Game 6: Minnesota/Penn State vs. No. 6 Maryland, 25 minutes after Game 5, Big Ten Network
March 10
Game 7: Michigan State/Michigan vs. No. 1 Purdue, 12 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Game 8: Ohio State/Nebraska/Illinois vs. No. 4 Rutgers, 25 minutes after Game 7, Big Ten Network
Game 9: Wisconsin/Iowa vs. No. 2 Indiana, 6:30 p.m. ET, Big Ten Network
Game 10: Minnesota/Penn State/Maryland vs. No. 3 Northwestern, 25 minutes after Game 9, Big Ten Network
March 11
Game 11: Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
Game 12: Game 9 winner vs. Game 10 winner, 25 minutes after Game 11
March 12
Game 13: Game 11 winner vs. Game 12 winner, 3:30 p.m. ET, CBS
